The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) gave the Sundance Institute a $4 million endowment to its Indigenous Program. According to the two institutes’ agreement, this endowment will be used for young Indigenous people from both federally recognized and unrecognized Californian tribes.
This endowment will help Sundance’s Indigenous Program spread its efforts to grants and scholarships for young Indigenous filmmakers in the middle of or starting a project. With it, they will develop a fellowship that offers a $25,000 grant alongside year-long free membership from the Indigenous program and plenty of unique creative development opportunities. Those in this fellowship will also be given admittance to the Sundance Film Festival to help build their social network.
FIGR tribal chairman Greg Sarris explains his excitement in a statement about the endowment and how it can help the film industry grow in its diversity. Having attended Sundance’s 1992 freelance screenwriting class, Sariss “witnessed firsthand the incredible support that the Institute provides to all artists, but Indigenous talent specifically.” “Supporting and nurturing these artists will open up pathways to success for the entire California Indigenous creative community and enable us to tell our stories,” Sarris eagerly pitches.
Starting in 1994, the Sundance Indigenous Program has supported a variety of filmmakers like Taika Waititi and Reservation Dogs co-creators Steven Harjo and Sydney Reeland. The association’s director believes that American cinema is lacking stories told by those who have lived on and cultivated their land over several hundred years.
“The ripple effect of the opportunities created through this endowment will be significant,” Indigenous Program Adam Piron gushes.
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